Feeler mechanism for looms



J. TARANTO FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS. APPLICATION FILED AU G.26, 1919.

1 69,990, Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

Fig.1.

In v enlfon John Turuni u b %%kW Afiys.

UNITED STATES orr cs.

JOHN TARANTO, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 DRAPER CORPORA-TION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A GOEPOBATION OF MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

2 Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

Application filed August 26, 1919. Serial No. 320,009.

tion with the accompanying drawing, is a.

specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to improvements in feeler mechanisms forautomatic looms of the weft replenishing type and is illustrated hereinas adapted'for color looms of the type disclosed in the patents grantedto E. H. Ryon, No. 933,492, September 7, 1909, No. 972,722, October '11,1910 and is particularly an improvement upon the feeler mechanismillustrated in Patent No. 989,429,'granted to E. H. Ryon, April 11,1911. I

The loom structures disclosed in-the patents aforesaid comprise a seriesof magazines adapted to contain filling carriers wound with yarn ofdifferent colors, said magazines being adapted selectively to dischargea filling carrier into a hopper from which it may be thrust by atransferrer into the running shuttle, means are provided for retainingthe filling carriers in the magazine until the filling upon the fillingcarrier in the running shuttle is depleted to a predetermined extent,whereupon a feeler operates certain mechanisms to cause the release of afilling carrier having weft corresponding in color to that upon thefilling carrier in the running'shuttle and delivers the same to thehopper from which itis thrust by the transferrer into the shuttle.

The mechanism for thus releasing a filling carrier from the propermagazine includes an actuator which is constantly reciprocated from amoving part of the 100111 such as the cam shaft, said actuator beingineffective unless its free end is engaged and re strained frommovement. When however, the free end of the actuator is restrained frommovement itsopposite endfis caused to operate the mechanism forreleasing the filling carrier from the proper magazine.

The feeler mechanism for restraining the movement of said actuator whichis disclosed in the Ryon patents aforesaid com: prises means normallyextending across the path of the actuator but withdrawn from Said-pathby the feeler upo each bea up quently the actuator engaging member willnot be withdrawn from the path of the actuator and consequently atransfer will be effected unnecessarily. p

The object of the present inventionis to provide a feeler mechanism inwhich the actuator engaging member will be normally withdrawn from thepath of the actuator and will only be thrust into the path of theactuator when transfer is called for by a predetermined depletion of thefilling upon the filling carrier whereby likelihood of im-. propertransfer will be avoided.

While the mechanism disclosed herein is particularly adapted to controlthe action of transferring mechanism it will be understood that it mayalso be used for the purpose of controlling any other change 'in theoperation of the loom which may be effected through the actuatoraforesaid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simplified and moreeffective type of feeling mechanism.

'panying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims. y Apreferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the accompanyingdrawings in which,

Figure 1 1s a side elevation of a feeler, the frame upon which 1t issupported being 7 broken away,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, and, Fig. 3 is an end elevation ofthe same as viewed fromthe left in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the spring actuated detent whichacts to hold the actuator engaging rod out of operative position.

in the drawing comprises a bracket 1 which is adapted to be mounted uponthe end of the loom frame, the bracket 1 is provided with two upwardlyextending branches 2 and 3, the branch 2 being provided with upwardextensions 4;, 5 having a vertical slot 6 The feeler mechanism which isillustrated between them forming a guideway for a verticallyreciprocating actuator 7 such as that illustrated in the Ryon patentsaforesaid and above briefly described.

The extension 4 of the branch 2 is provided with a transverse aperture 8which forms a guideway for an actuator engaging member preferably in theform of a rod 9, one end of which may be reciprocated across the path ofthe actuator 7. The actuator engaging rod 9 is-pivotally connected atits opposite end to the bifurcated upper end of an arm10 of a rock shaft11 which is pivotally mounted in bosses 12 and 13 extending laterallyfrom the arms 2 and 3 of the bracket 1. Means are provided whichnormally tend to force the actuator engaging member across the slot 6inthe path ofthe actuator, a preferredmeans for accomplishing this purposebeing a helical spring 14 v which surrounds the rock shaft 11 and isanchored at one end to the boss 12 and at its opposite end to a collar15 which is ad justably secured upon the rock shaft 11 by a set screw16. In order normally to retain the actuator engaging member or rod 9out of the path=of the actuator a detent is provided preferably in theform of a lever 17 which is pivotally mounted upon a standard or stud 18which'is screw threaded at its lower end and secured in the extension 12of the bracket-2 by a set nut 19. The detent lever 17 is provided withan arm 20 which engages the arm 10 of the rock shaft which is connectedto the actuator engaging member 9. A helical spring surrounding the stud10, anchored at one end in the hub of the detent lever '17 and at itsopposite end in a collar 22 adjustably secured to the stud 18 normallytends to-force the arm.20 of the detent lever against the arm 10 whichoperates the actuatorv engaging rod 9. A part of the hub of the lever 17is cut away and a pin 23 secured to the standard 18 is adapted to engagethe walls of the cut away portions thereby to limit the movement of thelever 17 A sufiiciently greater tension is imposed upon the spring 21than that of the spring 14 normally to force the arm 10 outwardly andthereby hold the actuator engaging member out of the path of theactuator.

The detent lever 17 desirably is provided with an adjustable extension24 which may be securedto it by bolts 25, said lever having adown-turned end adapted to be engaged by a reciprocating member carriedby a feeler, upon predetermined exhaustionof the filling upon thefilling carrier.

The feeler comprises a slide 26 the end-of which is adapted to enter theshuttle and feel upon the filling on the filling; carrier in the shuttleSaid feeler slide is mounted in a suitable way 27 in a stand28 having adepending boss-29 provided with a slot 3O leading to a threaded aperturewhich engages a screw threaded stud 31 carried by a bolt 32 extendingthrough the flange 3 of the bracket 1. The screw threaded stud 31 isclamped in position by a nut 33 upon the bolt 32. The boss 29 may beadjustably secured upon the screw threaded stud 31 by a set screw 34passing through the bifurcated section of said boss across the slot 30.

The stand 28 is provided with a cap 35 having closed ends 36 and 37inwhich a rod 38 is journaled, said rod having an enlarged screwthreaded end39 engaging the end 36 of the cap and a smaller stemextending through the end. Said rod may be fixed in adjusted positionby'a set screw 40 preferably located adj acentthe end 37.. The feelcrslide 26 is provided with an upwardly extending flange or boss 41through which the stem f the rod 38 extends.

A helical spring 42 surrounding said rod bears at one end against theplate 41- and at its opposite end against the :end 37 of the cap, saidspring tending'normally to force the feeler into extended orfeelingiposition. The

extension of the feeler is limited by the engagement of the boss 41 withtheshoulder upon the rod 38 where the same merges into the enlarged endportion 39. A lever 43 is pivoted upon a stud 44-near the feeling end ofthe feeler and is provided, with a lateral extension 45 which maybeintegral with said lever or may be an extension-secured thereto by thebolt 46. Thelateral extension 45 has near its end an adjustable screw 47secured t it by .nuts 48 and 49. r The body, of the lever is normallymaintained in parallelism with the axis of the feeler by a spring 50 andengaging said extension and suitably secured to-the feeler itself as byextending into an aperture in the feeler.

In the assembling of the device the end of the screw 47 is so adjustedthat when the filling upon the filling carrier is depleted to apredetermined extent the head ofthe screw will engage the wall oftheshuttle and rock the lever 43-sufficiently to position itsop-f positeend 51 in front of the downward extension 24 of. the detent lever 17.: p

I In the operation of the device thefeeler 26 enters the shuttle andfeels upon the filling inthe filling carrier and is forced backwardlyagainst the action of the spring 42 in the usual manner. When thefilling.

is depleted toa predetermined extent, such as to require transfer, theend of the screw 47 engages the wall of the shuttle and swings the lever43 about its pivot44 until the op-- posite end 51 engages thedownwardly. extending arm 24 of the detent leverv 17. When insuchposition the movement of the feeler as it is forced inward by thelay causes the detent lever'17 to rock about its pivotal stud 18,thusreleasing the pressure of-itsarmupon the arm 10. Thereupon the spring 14actue rock shaft 11 to force the arm 10 vforward 7 until, the actuatorengaging rod 9 extends across the slot 6 whichforms a guideway fortheactuator. One endjof the actuator is thus arrested and the mechanismwhich vibratesit causes the opposite end of the actuator to initiate theaction of the mechanism for efiecting a change in the operation of theloom as described in the Ryon patents aforesaid.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the invention disclosedherein is illustrative and not restrictive and that variousmodifications in the construction and arrangement of parts may be madewithin the spirit andscope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is;

1. Feeler mechanism for looms having a reciprocating actuator adaptedwhen engaged to initiate the action of means for effecting a change inthe operation of the loom comprising a spring operated actuator engagingmember normally tending to engage and arrest said reciprocatingactuator, a detent having resilient means operating normally to holdsaid actuator engaging member out of the path of said reciprocatingactuator, a feeler and means operable thereby upon detection of apredetermined depletion of filling on the filling carrierto cause saiddetent to release its engagement with said spring actuated member.

2. Feeler mechanism for looms having a reciprocating actuator adaptedwhen engaged to initiate the action of means for effecting a change inthe operation of the loom comprising a guideway for said actuator, anactuator engaging member reciprocable transversely of said guideway,means tending normally to force said actuator engaging member acrosssaid guideway, a detent having resilient means acting normally towithhold said actuator engaging member out of said guideway whereby saidactuator is enabled to vibrate freely, a feeler and means operablethereby upon predetermined depletion of filling upon the filling carrierto release said detent from said actuator engaging member whereby thelatter will be thrust across-the guideway, thereby arresting themovement of said actuator and causing a change in the operation of theloom.

3. Feeler mechanism for looms having a reciprocating actuator adaptedwhen engaged to initiate a change in the operation of a loom comprisinga guideway for said actuator, an actuator engaging rod reciprocabletransversely of said guideway, a rock shaft having an arm connected tosaid actuator engaging rod, resilient means normally tending to forcesaid actuator engaging rod across said guideway, a detent, re-

.silient means actingupon said detent with suflicient force towithdrawiand hold said actuator engaging rod from the-path of; said actuator, afeeler and ,means operable by said feeler upon predetermined exhaustionof filling; upon the .filling carrier-tomove said detent 'againsttheaction-of a spring and thereby to release said actuator engaging meanswhereby the latter will be thrust 7 across the path of the actuator.

4:. Feeler mechanism for looms having a reciprocating actuator adaptedwhen en-' gaged to initiate achange in the operation of the loom,comprising a guideway for said actuator, an actuator engaging rodreciprocable across said guideway, a rock shaft having an arm connectedto said rod, a spring upon said rock shaft tending normally to forcesaid rod across the path of said actuator, a rock shaft having a detentlever engaging the arm which is connected to said actuator engaging rod,a spring upon therock shaft of said detent lever of greater force thanthat of the spring upon the rock shaft which operates the actuatorengaging rod, a feeler and means carried by said feeler adapted uponpredetermined exhaustion offilling upon the filling carrier to engagesaid detent lever and release the same from engagement with the armwhich operates the actuator engaging rod.

5. Feeler mechanism for looms having a reciprocating actuator adaptedwhen engaged to initiate a changev in the operation of the 100111comprising a guideway for said actuator, an actuator engaging memberreciprocable transversely of said guideway, means tending normally toforce said actuain the path of said actuator, a spring actuated detentlever operating normally to withhold said actuating rod from the path ofsaid actuator, a feeler adapted to enter a shuttle and' feel upon thefilling carrier therein, a lever pivotally mounted upon said feeleradapted to engage the wall of the shuttle .upon a predetermineddepletion of the filling upon the filling carrier and when thus engagedto actuate said detent lever whereby the latter will be caused torelease the actuator engaging rod. o

6. Feeler mechanism for looms ha-vlng a reciprocating actuator adaptedwhen engaged to initiate a change in the operation of the loomcomprising a guideway for said actuator, an actuator engaging memberreciprocable transversely of said guideway,

means tending normally to force said actuator engaging member acrosssaid guideway 1n the path of said actuator, a spring actuated detentlever having an arm enrier therein, a lever pivotally mounted upongaging the arm which rec-iprocates the acsaid feeler having means on oneend to" engage the wall of the shuttle upon predetermined exhaustion offilling uponthefillingcarrier and operable thereby to cause the oppositeend of said lever to engage the depending end: of said detent leverwhereby the movement of said" feeler will cause said ietent' lever torelease the" actuator. engaglng rod thereby restraining mevement'of theactuator and causing a change in the 10 operation of theloo'm';

In testimony whe're'ofI have sign'ed'my name to-this' specification.

JOHN TARANTQE

